Quick-connect hose members and control system

ABSTRACT

A hose system having releasable slide-fit inlet and outlet end coupling portions together with an on-off valve member and an adjustable spray nozzle member interconnected with lengths of flexible hose between the end coupling portions to be readily connected to and disconnected from the end of a variety of flow devices equipped with complementary slide-fit coupling portions so as to regulate flow therethrough and the spray through the outlet coupling portion.

1 United States Patent [15] 3,64,45 Hicks Feb. 8, 197 2 [54]QUICK-CONNECT HOSE MEMBERS 2,281,229 4/1942 Bullock ..239/5 86 X ANDCONTROL SYSTEM 2,336,453 12/1943 Bevington... ..239/586 2,568,515 9/1951Scheiwer..... 239/569 X [721 Margm Bmude 3,042,312 7/1962 Packard239/586 x [73] Assignee: James C. Hicks, Boulder, Colo. 3,157,34811/1964 Danko ...239/583 X [22] Filed: Apr. 30 1970 3,188,011 6/1965Temullo ..239/586 X [21] Appl. No.: 33,196 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L.King Attorney-Reilly and Lewis [52] U.S. Cl .239/583, 239/586, 239/587,

239/600 [57] ABSTRACT [5 Int. v ..B05b A hose ystem having releasableSlide-fit inlet and outlat end [58] Field of Search ..239/568, 586, 583,587, 588, coupling portions together with an ff valve member and 239/600an adjustable spray nozzle member interconnected with lengths offlexible hose between the end coupling portions to [56] References cuedbe readily connected to and disconnected from the end of a UNITED STATESPATENTS variety of flow devices equipped with complementary slide-fitcoupling portions so as to regulate flow therethrough and the 3,420,4491/1969 Mll'lClenl 6t 586 X pray through the outlet coupling po fio2,764,452 9/1956 Anderson et aL. ...239/583 X 990,179 4/1911 Wilson eta1. ..239/586 X 11 Claims,4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 81972 3,640,465

IN VEN T OR. MARGARET L. HICKS ATTORNEYS.

QUICK-CONNECT HOSE MEMBERS AND CONTROL SYSTEM This invention relates tofluid flow control devices and more particularly to a novel and improvedquick-connect hose members and control system for regulating fluid flowthrough a hose which afi'ords maximum convenience to the user.

As background, previously used hose couplings and spray nozzles,particularly suitable for garden and home usage, have for the most partemployed threaded couplings. One drawback of threaded couplings is thatthey are frequently not tightened sufficiently to effect a good seal orbecome damaged and out of shape and as a result leak and unnecessarywater is wasted. There is also inconvenience and loss of time ofthreading and unthreading the couplings to add additional lengths ofhose or to add sprinklers. The nozzles for sprinkling and spraying ofwater heretofore provided require that the water be turned off at thewater source or hydrant valve before connecting the outlet end to thesprinkler or to an additional length of hose. The use of the threadedcoupling for the spray nozzle frequently results in its becoming lostwhen detached from the end of the hose.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a unique hosesystem which overcomes many of the above-mentioned disadvantages andinconveniences of existing hose systems as they relate to the wateringof a garden or lawn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hose members and systemwhich provides for alternately spraying and stopping flow therethroughand affords maximum ease of coupling and decoupling other appliances ateither end.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an integral hoseassembly which performs all of the necessary control and sprayrequirements for lawn and garden purposes at a point remote from thesource of water under pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a versatile hose systemincluding slide-fit-type coupling portions at the intake and dischargeends thereof and in which the end portions of the flow and spray controlmembers have male connector portions which are readily insertable intothe end of a conventional flexible hose to be fixedly clamped thereto.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hose systemincluding slide-fit coupling portions at each end, an on-off valvemember and a nozzle member with coupling portions at each end which arecoupled together by flexible hose of a selected length to provide anintegral assembly which may spray water from its discharge end, connectto the end of another length of hose or sprinkler appliance, or may beused as an interconnecting link between hose lengths as desired.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a water tap with a length offlexible hose coupled thereto which transfers water under pressure to aquickconnect hose system shown in a perspective view which mayreleasably couple to another coupling member shown at its discharge end;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partially in section of the intakecoupling member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partially in section of the on-off valvemember shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation partially in section of the combined spraynozzle and coupling member of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in FIG. 1 a water tap or hydrant 11 isrepresented as a source of water under pressure and has coupled to oneend, a conventional flexible hose 12 with a quick-connect femalereleasable coupling portion 13 secured at its discharge end. A hosesystem generally designated by numeral 14 is shown in a position toreleasably insert and couple to the end of the quick-connect femalereleasable coupling portion 13 at its inlet and to a quick-connect malereleasable coupling portion 15 at the outlet.

Broadly stated, the quick-connect hose system 14 comprises a couplingmember 21 at the inlet end, a flexible hose 22 of a selected lengthinterconnected between coupling member 21 and an on-off valve member 23,together with a flexible hose 24 of a selected length interconnectedbetween the on-ofi' valve member 23 and the inlet of the combinedcoupling and spray nozzle member 25. A preferred length of hose 24 isabout 8 feet to permit cutting off the flow to the spray nozzle memberfrom a point remote from the hydrant.

The inlet coupling member 21 is in the form of a generally tubular orelongated hollow body with a generally cylindrical male coupling portion31 at one end having a tapered surface 32 at the end and a taperedgroove 33 disposed inwardly of the tapered end. This couplingconstruction is adapted to slidably insert and releasably fasten in thefemale snap-fit coupling portion 13. A generally cylindrical, headedmale coupling portion 34 is provided on the other end of the body member21 which also has a tapered surface 35 at the end and a shallow,relatively broad, circumferential groove 36 is disposed inwardly of thetapered end. An enlarged central flange section 37 is disposed betweenthe two end coupling portions against which the flexible hose 22 mayabut. The inlet end portion of the coupling member 21 will thenslide-fit into coupling 13 at the end of a hose and the outlet end willslidably insert into a flexible hose 22 which is fixedly secured theretopreferably by a clamp represented at 38.

The on-off valve member 23 comprises an inner generally tubular orcylindrical valve body 41 having a central partitioning wall 42separating the body into inlet and outlet passages 43 and 44,respectively. An outer slidable sleeve or hollow cylinder 45 moves backand forth along the inner valve body 41 so as to regulate the flowthrough the valve body by either admitting flow therethrough or shuttingit off fully.

The inner valve body 41 has upper and lower radially extending flowslots 47 and 48, respectively, on the upstream side of the partitioningwall 42 and upper and lower radially extending flow slots 49 and 50,respectively, on the downstream side. An annular groove 51 formed in thepartitioning wall carries a flexible sealing O-ring 53. The inner valvebody has generally cylindrical male headed hose coupling portions 54 and55 at each end which are similar to the hose coupling portion 34 abovedescribed and including a tapered end surface and a relatively broadshallow groove inwardly of the tapered end which in the assembly thereofslidably inserts into the ends of the flexible hoses 22 and 24,respectively. The hoses 22 and 24 are then shown as being fixedlysecured to the coupling portions 54 and 55 by means of clamps 58 and 59,respectively. The inner valve body 41 also includes spaced annulargrooves 61 and 62 on each side of the radially extending flow-throughslots which carry sealing rings 63 and 64, respectively; groove 61 andassociated sealing ring 63 being spaced a further distance from theradial slots to engage the inner surface of the cylinder when slid tothe closed position represented in dashed lines at 45a.

The slidable cylinder 45 includes an irurer centrally disposed annulargroove or recessed area 66 which forms an outer axial flow passage andis arranged so that when it is centered above the radial flow grooves asshown, the fluid flow will pass from the inlet passage 43 along therecessed area 66 and into the outlet passage 44. In the closed positionas represented in dashed lines at 45a, the inner surface on one side ofgroove 66 covers the radial flow slots and the sealing O-rings are in asealing engagement so as to prevent flow through the radial flow slots.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the combined coupling and spray nozzle member25 is shown to include an outer generally cylindrical or tubular housing71 having a section of internal threads 72 into which is threaded aninner generally cylindrical male valve 73 having a section of externalthreads 74. An inner inturned circurnferentially extending flangeportion 76 inside the housing has a tapered surface 77 providing a valveseat. A locking cap 78 having internal threads, threads over externalthreads on the upstream end of the housing 71 to hold gasket members 79and 80 in place against the ends of the housing and thereby provide aseal against leakage between the outer housing 71 and the inner valvemember 73.

The discharge end of the housing 71 is provided with a quick-connectfemale releasable snap-fit or slide-fit coupling portion including ahollow cylindrical end section 82 with an annular exterior groove 83which carries a snapring 84. The snapring serves to hold an internallyflanged slidable sleeve 85 on the end of the housing. A coil spring 86under the sleeve is positioned against the housing so that the springserves to hold the sleeve 85 in the extended position shown. Ballmembers 87 are arranged in circumferentially spaced openings 88 in thehousing and are held by the sleeve to extend radially into acircumferential groove on a male coupling portion to lock the slide-fitmale and female coupling portions together in a coupled relation. Threeball members at 120 intervals are preferred. The release of theadjoining coupling is accomplished by moving the sleeve 85 inwardly tocompress the spring 86 so that the ball members move radially outwardlyso as to clear the groove in the associated male coupling portion. Awasher 89 is positioned inside the female coupling portion againstflange 79 to prevent leakage.

The inner valve member 73 is generally hollow to conduct fluidtherethrough and terminates at its downstream end in a tapered head 91.The tapered head has an inclined shoulder 92 arranged to engage thetapered valve seat surface 77 and has openings 93 is opposite sideswhich will pass fluid therethrough. The fluid will swirl in a chamber 94formed by the wall surfaces of the inner and outer members and will passbetween the tapered surfaces 77 and 92 and emits as a spray through thehollow interior of the female end coupling portion. This spray isadjusted by threading the inner member 73 into the outer housing 72 byturning it in one direction or the other. The inner valve member 73 hasa snapring 95 adjacent the end of its threaded portion and an enlargedportion 96 inwardly of its intake end with a knurled surface and alsoincludes a male insertable slide-fit coupling portion 97 with a taperededge at the end and a tapered groove inwardly similar to couplingportion 31 above described which permits it to slidably insert into hosesection 24 and be fixedly clamped thereto by a clamp 98, or in thealternative this male snap-fit coupling may be directly coupled to afemale slide-fit coupling 13 at the end of a supply hose as shown inFIG. 1.

The foregoing hose members and system provide an ad justable spray atthe outlet from free flow to a very fine spray. The female couplingportion at the outlet of the spray nozzle member permits it to bereadily fastened to and disconnected from another hose, sprinkler, orother watering device without impairing the flow of water. The spraynozzle member being fixedly secured to the hose eliminates thepossibility of loss thereof. The on-off valve member provides instanton-off action and saves steps between the work end and faucet as well asloss of water by leakage.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that changes in details of structure andsystem components may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system comprising a maleslide-fit inlet coupling member, an on-ofi valve member coupled to theoutlet end of said inlet coupling member and an adjustable spray nozzlemember having a female slide-fit outlet coupling portion, said spraynozzle member being coupled to the outlet end of said valve member apreselected distance therefrom whereby to selectively and alternatelyregulate the fluid flow and spray through said female slide-fit outletcoupling portion, said female slide-fit outlet coupling portion sized toalternately slidably receive the end of a male slide-fit couplingportion at the end of a hose.

2. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1including a flexible hose connected between said inlet coupling memberand the inlet of said valve member and a flexible hose connected betweenthe outlet of said valve member and inlet of said spray nozzle member.

3. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1wherein said inlet coupling member includes a male slide-fit couplingportion at its inlet end and a male hose coupling at its outlet endsized to slidably insert into the end of a flexible connecting hose.

4. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1wherein said valve member includes a male hose coupling portion at eachend sized to slidably insert into the end of a flexible connecting hose.

5. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1wherein said male slide-fit coupling portion includes a cylindrical bodyhaving a tapered groove inset from the end thereof, said femaleslide-fit coupling portion having ball members adapted to releasablyinsert into said tapered groove.

6. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1wherein said female slide-fit outlet coupling portion has an intumedannular valve seat disposed on an inner wall thereof and an innerannular valve member having side openings adapted to move toward andaway from the intumed annular valve seat in selected increments toadjust the spray produced through said outlet coupling portion.

7. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1wherein said valve member includes an inner cylinder divided by apartitioning wall and having radially extending passages through a wallof the cylinder on each side of the partition wall and a sleeve slidablealong the cylinder to alternately and selectively open and close theradial passages.

8. In a quick-connect flow controlled hose system having a source offluid under pressure, the combination of an inlet coupling member havinga male slide-fit inlet coupling portion adapted to releasably connect toa supply line,

a length of flexible hose fixedly connected to the outlet end of saidcoupling member,

an on-off valve member to selectively turn the flow on and off having aninlet end inserted into the outlet end of said length of hose andfixedly connected thereto,

a second length of flexible hose of a preselected length to position thevalve member having one end in spaced proximity to the free end of thesystem and extending over the outlet end of said on-off valve member andfixedly connected thereto,

an adjustable spray nozzle member to produce a spray of fluid having aninlet end inserted into the outlet end of said second length of hose andfixedly secured thereto, said nozzle member having a female slide-fitoutlet coupling portion whereby to selectively and alternately spraythrough the slide-fit outlet coupling portion and releasably connect toa male coupling portion similar to the male coupling portion of saidinlet coupling member.

9. In a hose system as set forth in claim 8 including clamp meansencompassing each end of each hose to fixedly secure the end of eachhose to its associated member.

10. In a hose system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each end portionclamped to each hose includes a recessed area inwardly of the endthereof.

11. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system comprising a slide-fitinlet coupling member, a valve member coupled to the outlet end of saidinlet coupling member and an adjustable spray nozzle member having afemale slide-fit outlet coupling portion coupled to the outlet end ofsaid valve member whereby to selectively and alternately regulate thefluid flow and spray through said outlet coupling portion, saidslide-fit outlet coupling portion sized to alternately slidably receivethe end of a male slide-fit coupling portion and the end of a hose, saidfemale slide-fit outlet coupling portion including circumferentiallyspaced ball members resiliently urged into the female coupling portionof the nozzle member by an outer slidable sleeve member.

1. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system comprising a maleslide-fit inlet coupling member, an on-off valve member coupled to theoutlet end of said inlet coupling member and an adjustable spray nozzlemember having a female slide-fit outlet coupling portion, said spraynozzle member being coupled to the outlet end of said valve member apreselected distance therefrom whereby to selectively and alternatelyregulate the fluid flow and spray through said female slide-fit outletcoupling portion, said female slide-fit outlet coupling portion sized toalternately slidably receive the end of a male slide-fit couplingportion at the end of a hose.
 2. A quick-connect flow controlled hosesystem as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible hose connectedbetween said inlet coupling member and the inlet of said valve memberand a flexible hose connected between the outlet of said valve memberand inlet of said spray nozzle member.
 2. A quick-connect flowcontrolled hose system as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible hoseconnected between said inlet coupling member and the inlet of said valvemember and a flexible hose connected between the outlet of said valvemember and inlet of said spray nozzle member.
 3. A quick-connect flowcontrolled hose system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inletcoupling member includes a male slide-fit coupling portion at its inletend and a male hose coupling at its outlet end sized to slidably insertinto the end of a flexible connecting hose.
 4. A quick-connect flowcontrolled hose system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve memberincludes a male hose coupling portion at each end sized to slidablyinsert into the end of a flexible connecting hose.
 5. A quick-connectflow controlled hose system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said maleslide-fit coupling portion includes a cylindrical body having a taperedgroove inset from the end thereof, said female slide-fit couplingportion having ball members adapted to releasably insert into saidtapered groove.
 6. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as setforth in claim 1 wherein said female slide-fit outlet coupling portionhas an inturned annular valve seat disposed on an inner wall thereof andan inner annular valve member having side openings adapted to movetoward and away from the inturned annular valve seat in selectedincrements to adjust the spray produced through said outlet couplingportion.
 7. A quick-connect flow controlled hose system as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said valve member includes an inner cylinder divided bya partitioning wall and having radially extending passages through awall of the cylinder on each side of the partition wall and a sleeveslidable along the cylinder to alternately and selectively open andclose the radial passages.
 8. In a quick-connect flow controlled hosesystem having a source of fluid under pressure, the combination of aninlet coupling member having a male slide-fit inlet coupling portionadapted to releasably connect to a supply line, a length of flexiblehose fixedly connected to the outlet end of said coupling member, anon-off valve member to selectively turn the flow on and off having aninlet end inserted into the outlet end of said length of hose andFixedly connected thereto, a second length of flexible hose of apreselected length to position the valve member having one end in spacedproximity to the free end of the system and extending over the outletend of said on-off valve member and fixedly connected thereto, anadjustable spray nozzle member to produce a spray of fluid having aninlet end inserted into the outlet end of said second length of hose andfixedly secured thereto, said nozzle member having a female slide-fitoutlet coupling portion whereby to selectively and alternately spraythrough the slide-fit outlet coupling portion and releasably connect toa male coupling portion similar to the male coupling portion of saidinlet coupling member.
 9. In a hose system as set forth in claim 8including clamp means encompassing each end of each hose to fixedlysecure the end of each hose to its associated member.
 10. In a hosesystem as set forth in claim 8 wherein each end portion clamped to eachhose includes a recessed area inwardly of the end thereof.
 11. Aquick-connect flow controlled hose system comprising a slide-fit inletcoupling member, a valve member coupled to the outlet end of said inletcoupling member and an adjustable spray nozzle member having a femaleslide-fit outlet coupling portion coupled to the outlet end of saidvalve member whereby to selectively and alternately regulate the fluidflow and spray through said outlet coupling portion, said slide-fitoutlet coupling portion sized to alternately slidably receive the end ofa male slide-fit coupling portion and the end of a hose, said femaleslide-fit outlet coupling portion including circumferentially spacedball members resiliently urged into the female coupling portion of thenozzle member by an outer slidable sleeve member.